Competitors worked across the three days completing a complex project designed by an expert panel of judges.

When setting the project for the Plastering category, lead judge Colin McCaughey said he took into consideration what students learn as part of their qualification.

“This year, the design incorporated three main elements: internal plastering including fibrous plasterwork, Saint-Gobain Weber’s monocouche render, and finally, direct bond dry lining which tests the competitors' skills and knowledge of taping, jointing and coving,” explained Colin.

“They only had 18 hours to complete the three modules so there was a lot to do in the limited time they had. I guarantee they slept well at night!”

The Weber module involved applying a monocouche to the wall, adding a plinth detail and creating decorative bands around the door.

Weber application manager Curtis Johnston is a previous SkillBuild and WorldSkills Finalist and was a judge for the third time at this year’s event. He has been plastering for nine years now and believes that his achievements in these competitions have made a huge difference in his career.

“Before I worked at Weber, I was self-employed. If I was speaking with customers and started talking about SkillBuild or WorldSkills, you could see they were instantly impressed.

“It’s hard for homeowners looking for tradespeople as they never really know what they’re going to get, so having these competitions against your name reassures customers that you’re capable of doing the job to a really high standard.”